Catalytic converter filling apparatus

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to an apparatus for filling a catalytic converter with a granular type catalyst for use on a motor vehicle and includes a fixture to vibrate the converter during the fill operation to assure complete filling of the converter and a vacuum valve mechanism in the fill hose to shut off the flow of the catalyst material without any spillage or crushing upon the converter being filled.

United States Patent Bendle Jan. 7, 1975 CATALYTIC CONVERTER FILLINGAPPARATUS Inventor: William J. Bendle, Flint, Mich.

General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich.

Filed: Nov. 26, 1973 Appl. No.: 418,836

Assignee:

US. Cl. 141/46, 141/74, 23/288 F, 222/226, 141/392 Int. Cl 1365b 31/00,B65b l/06 Field of Search 23/288 F; 141/12, 67, 68, 141/71-80, 46, 65,66, 5,8, 392; 222/226 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1967 VanPernis 141/68 Primary Examiner-Houston S. Bell, Jr. Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Peter A, Taucher [57] ABSTRACT This invention relates to anapparatus for filling a catalytic converter with a granular typecatalyst for use on a motor vehicle and includes a fixture to vibratethe converter during the fill operation to assure complete filling ofthe converter and a vacuum valve mechanism in the till hose to shut offthe flow of the catalyst material without any spillage 0r crushing uponthe converter being filled.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures CATALYTIC CONVERTER FILLING APPARATUS Thecatalytic converter to function properly and efficiently must becompletely filled prior to being mounted on a motor vehicle sinceotherwise the motion of the vehicle will compact the granules therebyreducing the bed volume and the efficiency of the converter. Also,compacting by the vehicle will allow the granules to rub against eachother and thereby cause them to rapidly pulverize. In addition, afterthe converter is filled, some means must be used to shut off the flow ofthe catalyst material without spilling and without any of the materialbeing pulverized or broken. The catalyst granules are generally coveredwith a platinum catalyst, an expensive metal, and therefore any catalystspillage or breakage is costly and is to be avoided. Further, pulverizedgranules will pass through or be blown from the converter upon vehiclestart up, causing a reduction in the converter bed volume and rapidbreakdown of the material due to bed vibration.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide asimply constructed filling apparatus that assures complete filling andcompacting of the catalyst material in the converter.

It is a further object to provide a unique valve means to shut off theflow of catalyst granular materials without spilling upon disconnectionand without the material being pulverized or broken when the valve isclosed.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings wherein like reference characters refer to like parts.

FIG. 1 shows a side elevational view of the filling apparatus; and

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged vertical cross sectional view of the fillerpipe and more specifically shows the details of the shutoff valve.

FIG. 1 shows the complete filling apparatus that includes a vibrator 12supported by horizontal cross members 16. A vertical support member 18is attached at right angles to the horizontal support members 16 tosupport the catalyst storage bin 20. Storage bin 20 as shown isillustrative, since a large remote central storage tank or the likecould be used. All the support members are shown as substantial sincethey are required to withstand vibrations at 10,000 25,000 cycles perminute. Catalyst storage bin 20 is positioned on an arm 22 which extendsat right angles to vertical support 18 generally above the vibrator 12.A funnel shaped hopper 24 is attached to and extends beneath the storagebin and has fill hose 26 attached at the funnel end 28.

Fill hose 26 is a flexible hose, but it is understood that the hosecould be of any suitable material and shape, and is sized to easily fitinto the converter fill hole 40. A shoulder is provided on the fill hose26 at 30 to prevent the fill hose from extending any further into theconverter than necessary during filling. The shoulder effectively servesas a gauge to properly position the fill hose so that it does not extendinto the converter any deeper than the inner edge of the fill hole. Ifit is inserted any deeper in the converter, the hose will take up headspace and prevent complete filling. Shoulder 30 rests on a mid-supportmember 32 during filling of the converter. A bellows or flexiblecoupling 34 is inserted or placed in the till hose to provide a degreeof flexibility in the fill hose movement and thereby assure easyinsertion and removal of the fill hose 26 into and out of the converter.Attachment of the flexible coupling to the fill hose can be accomplishedin any convenient manner and as shown is attached to shoulder 36 on theoutside of the fill hose at one end, and at the other end extends withinthe fill hose as at 38.

Converter 42 is held in a fixture or clamping means on vibrator 12. Itis understood that a converter having a side opening or end openingcould also be filled by this apparatus, with only a slight modificationto the clamping or holding means 50.

As best seen in FIG. 2, a coupling 54 is secured to fill hose 26 andreceives a mating coupling 56 that is attached to a flexible vacuum hose58. Hose 58 is in turn connected to any convenient vacuum source 60. Anopening 62 is provided in fill pipe 26 which is covered by a screen 66having a mesh size that prevents the catalyst 68 from passing throughthe screen. It should be understood that any other means for providing aperforated wall section in fill hose 58 will enable a valve controlfunction in accordance with the hereinafter described operation.

In operation, a converter 42 is secured in fixture 50 and fill hose 26is placed into fill hole 40 in the converter and the vibrator turned on.Catalyst material in the storage bin flows by reason of the vibratoraction and gravity through fill pipe 26 into the converter 42. Thevibrating action continues until the converter is completely filled andcompacting is achieved. Upon the converter being filled, and prior toremoval of the fill hose, the vacuum source is turned on and vacuum isapplied through hose 58 across screen 66 to thereby also directly applya vacuum across the catalyst material that fills the fill hose 26. Theaction of the vacuum through the screen across the catalyst sucks up thegranular material against the screen and tightly binds the material as acompacted mass blocking further flow out of the fill hose. Fill hose 26having the compacted catalyst material therein is removed from converter42 and the vibrator is turned off, and another converter is placed onthe fixture. The vibrator is turned on and the vacuum source turned off,to once again allow the catalyst material to flow into the converter.

The apparatus shown and described is of simple construction and assurescomplete filling and compacting of the catalyst material, with nospilling or breaking of the granular material when the flow of catalystmaterial is turned off to insert another converter for filling.

While the embodiments of the invention as herein disclosed constitute apreferred form, it is to be understood that other forrns could beadopted.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for filling a catalytic converter with a granularcatalyst material comprising, a vibrator, means on said vibrator adaptedto secure said catalytic converter in a fixed position during filling,catalyst storage means having an outlet at the bottom thereof, a fillhose connected to said outlet at one end with the other end adapted tobe connected to said converter to convey the catalyst material from thestorage means to the converter, valve means to control the flow ofcatalyst material in said fill hose comprising a plurality ofperforations in a section of the wall of said fill hose adjacent saidother end, the size of said perforations being smaller than the size ofsaid catalyst material to prevent the catalyst material from spillingthrough the opening when the fill hose is removed from the converterafter the converter is filled and avoiding crushing of the granules whenshutting off flow.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plurality ofperforations is provided by positioning a perforate member across anopening formed in said fill hose.

1. An apparatus for filling a catalytic converter with a granularcatalyst material comprising, a vibrator, means on said vibrator adaptedto secure said catalytic converter in a fixed position during filling,catalyst storage means having an outlet at the bottom thereof, a fillhose connected to said outlet at one end with the other end adapted tobe connected to said converter to convey the catalyst material from thestorage means to the converter, valve means to control the flow ofcatalyst material in said fill hose comprising a plurality ofperforations in a section of the wall of said fill hose adjacent saidother end, the size of said perforations being smaller than the size ofsaid catalyst material to prevent the catalyst material from spillingthrough the opening in said fill hose as it flows from said storagemeans to the converter, a vacuum hose secured to said perforated sectionof said fill hose, and a vacuum source connected to said vacuum hose toapply a vacuum in the fill hose at said perforated section, whereby thecatalyst material flowing in the fill hose is sucked up against saidperforations and is held in a tight compact to close off the fill pipeand catalyst material flow, thereby preventing spillage of the catalystmaterial when the fill hose is removed from the converter after theconverter is filled and avoiding crushing of the granules when shuttingoff flow.
 2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pluralityof perforations is provided by positioning a perforate member across anopening formed in said fill hose.